While there is much discussion of credit problems and other credit issues on FW Finance, there are other forums specifically targeted to the discussion of improving credit, people who are contesting debt collection agencies, etc. Users who have credit problems may benefit by visiting the following websites, as they hold the answers to many credit questions posted here at FW....

www.creditnet.comThey have a large discussion forum area, and I have seen many references here at FW to the site

www.creditinfocenter.comalso has a discussion area, and seems better organized than creditnet. LOTS OF SAMPLE LETTERS you can tailor to your situation to dispute debts and collection agencies. Check it out!

Penn LawyerA PA lawyer whose site actually has a lot of good info on dealing with collection agencies (instead of the typical, uninformative legal marketing sites), plus some recorded messages from debt collectors..worth a listen!

Creditforum.orgBay HouseThese sites have lots of good info too. Please be aware that a lot of these sites reference legal issues, but some of the legal information may be incorrect.....nevertheless, there is a lot of good info there...

Here are some links to prior Fatwallet Finance discussions on debt collection agencies and disputing debts (thanks to SeattleNative):

Want to do a settlement payment on CC debt as a possible option. Never have been in this situation before or even thought about it until recently. I have made payments but less than minimum due to show good faith and avoid collections.

They won't send or process any settlement in writing until I send another (agreed upon plus more) payment for the next months billing cycle. They "promise" to deduct this payment from the settlement amount. I'm told the account needs to be "current" with my less than minimum payment for next month needs to be paid now? Doesn't make any sense because the account is 7 months behind.

I was told last month if I made an additional payment, it would keep the account current and not charge off. So I did. Now, they want more again "in advance" before sending anything in writing with a verbal promise to apply payment to the settlement?

I think both discussions have value. I wouldn't go so far as to refer to either as 'excellent' though considering some of the high quality discussions we have here at FW.

SeattleNative

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Aug. 12, 2003 @ 11:51a

zender: you have a point - my "excellent" comment was meant towards the topics per se. Being financially "in the bucket" on a motor vehicle loan is among the most troubling challenges many Americans face because there is no easy "escape hatch".

TannerP

Addicted Member

posted: Sep. 3, 2003 @ 1:49a

Here's my story guys:

So I had a bad experience with google adwords... their servers went down one weekend when I needed to stop my account and now I owe $382.45 due to their technical difficulties. Google's customer service was not helpful, blaming it on me and refusing to recognize the problem. I can pay this debt obviously, but the principle of the thing makes me not want to pay them a cent. They sent the debt to a collection agency and they sent me a letter threatening to put it on my credit report.

My question is, do I send them a request for validation letter? What do I tell them as most of the sample letters have to do with identity theft? Do I admit that I owe the debt and tell them why I refuse to pay, or pretend that the debt is illegitimate?

DeGlass

Senior Member - 4K

posted: Sep. 3, 2003 @ 2:03a

TannerP said:

<< Here's my story guys:

So I had a bad experience with google adwords... their servers went down one weekend when I needed to stop my account and now I owe $382.45 due to their technical difficulties. Google's customer service was not helpful, blaming it on me and refusing to recognize the problem. I can pay this debt obviously, but the principle of the thing makes me not want to pay them a cent. They sent the debt to a collection agency and they sent me a letter threatening to put it on my credit report.

My question is, do I send them a request for validation letter? What do I tell them as most of the sample letters have to do with identity theft? Do I admit that I owe the debt and tell them why I refuse to pay, or pretend that the debt is illegitimate? >>

NEVER admit you owe them a red cent!

What proof do you have their servers went down over the weekend? For the entire 48 hours?Has Google ever acknowledged there was a problem?

I think the experts at creditnet.com can help you. There have been quite a few validation discussions lately. Hopefully you'll score some violations!

SUCKISSTAPLES

FW Historian

posted: Oct. 22, 2003 @ 1:42p

bump

pepsimanz

Member

posted: Oct. 22, 2003 @ 8:50p

Question here,

I read most of the links above and they are excellent resources. However, my story is a little different and I was wondering how I should approach it.

My story:I signed up with Verizon Wireless about 2 years ago for a cellphone, and about 1 and 1/2 year ago (6 months after initial signup), I added two additional phone and made it a family plan. Then, what happened was they had to open two new accounts, and then merge them to the primary account for the Family plan.

The trouble is the two new accounts both had the same account numbers but with a -2 and -3 at the end, and after the merge, each sub account both carried an initial balance of ~$50 (Activiation Fee + Prorated fee) and I didn't recognize it. I made the mistake assuming that since these are temperary accounts, these remaining balances would've be transfered to the primary. For the next 8 months, I kept getting invoices for all three, but since they all have the same account number except for the last digit, and the primary account shows the correct balance I am suppose to pay monthly, I only paid the primary account balance.

Finally, I received two collection agency notices on my 8th month or so for the $50 on each account (funny, two different companies for each account and $50 each), and right away (within a few days), I called Verizon, found out about my wrong assumptions, asked Verizon why they didn't transfer the balances, they apologized, but said that they have been sending the invoices for all three, and I should've paid attention to those, but at the end, I paid the remaining balances (~$100) in full over the phone.

However, at that time (about 4-5 months ago) I made another mistake and just ignored the debt collection agencies (didn't know too much about DCAs) since I thought I already paid the debt off, and since I spoke with Verizon, they should be clear.

Well, I just happened to take a look at my credit report this week and my report shows 2 debt collections, and those two debts hurt my credit pretty bad (I have no other negative factors and I have no deliquncies, and I have not high balance). I want to disput it, but I am not sure if it's too late to dispute with the debt agencies, or should I try to call verizon to have them fix it or should I send in a dispute request with equafax and just explain the whole story. Any advice would be great. Thanks a bunch in advance.

SUCKISSTAPLES

FW Historian

posted: Oct. 22, 2003 @ 9:12p

pepsimanz said:

<< Question here,

I read most of the links above and they are excellent resources. However, my story is a little different and I was wondering how I should approach it.. >>

Your story isnt different, this is a typical collection and you need to follow the steps to remove it. The links have info on removing collection items, and the faq post above clearly states there are OTHER forums setup to discuss disputing collections.

All of the info you need is in this thread , the linked threads, and the linked sites, if you dont want to figure out how to apply it to your situation, post your story in the forums created for discussion of debt collection and ask someone to walk you through it.

This letter is for use in getting an already paid collection OFF of your credit report.I had a small bill sent to collections a few years back. Long story short: I missed a bill during a move and didn't even know about it until ~1 year later when I got smart enough to check my credit report. Once I found out about it I paid it immediately, thinking it would improve my credit score. It only improved it nominally. So I thought there was nothing I could do about it.

HOWEVER, About 8 months ago, I was referred to artofcredit.com from a Fat Wallet thread. I found the nutcase letter series, adapted it to my situtation and used it, and got the collection erased from my CR with two letters that I sent to the collection agency. The basic premise is that since you have already paid the collection agency their money, they don't want to waste time and money fighting some nutcase in a legal dispute, even if they are totally in the right. You make vague ( but to my knowledge, legal) threats to take legal actions, referring to several consumer act statutes that you think they are violating - it doesn't matter whether it even makes sense or not. You can even add in a CC: at the end to your "lawywer" and or "accountant" ( I just made up a couple names), giving them the impression that you are seriously coming after them. So, rather than dealing with this nutcase (you) they just erase the collection from your report -- it's like it was never on there to begin with.

Again, this only works with collections you have already paid, but are still on your credit report. AND it is very important that you do this only with written communication - refuse to talk about it with them on the phone.

If you have more questions, go to the site, or PM me and I'll tell you what I know about it from my situation.

So, even though I didn't get the advice directly from this site, I credit FW with referring me to the site that increased my credit score from the 600's to the 730's. Thanks FW!

slap

ps - if the link above doesn't work for some reason, just search the artofcredit.com forum for "nutcase". Also, this is a free forum, and i am not affiliated with it in any way other than using it in this one instance.

[Q]Back to disputing with the Credit Bureaus;Be careful in selecting your method of dispute. Most of the time "not mine" is an acceptable starting place. Using one of the other choices such as "wrong dates" or "balance incorrect" implies that you have some knowledge of the account, making a later "not mine" pretty awkward.

I really think that you should do the right thing and if something is yours, but inaccurate, you should say so. When did the appropriate thing to do become saying it was "not mine"?

didYOUsearch

Cranky Member

posted: May. 11, 2005 @ 1:58p

bump for those who need it

bill777

Happy Member

posted: May. 12, 2005 @ 8:58p

Thanks SUCKISSTAPLES!

didYOUsearch

Cranky Member

posted: Jun. 17, 2005 @ 9:50p

bump

AlwaysLearning007

Member

posted: Jul. 1, 2005 @ 9:41p

Is it possible to get a CRA to remove my unlisted home phone number from my report? Mortgage companies are driving me nuts with solicitations. I just did the opt out thing for starters.

didYOUsearch

Cranky Member

posted: Sep. 2, 2005 @ 8:08p

AlwaysLearning007 said: [Q]Is it possible to get a CRA to remove my unlisted home phone number from my report? Mortgage companies are driving me nuts with solicitations. I just did the opt out thing for starters.dispute it and it may dropoff

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